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Triumphs of the White House Spouse

Everyone has heard of the office of the president, but there is also an official office of the first lady, which has increased in size and importance as the presidency has grown.

It was created by Edith Roosevelt, whose husband, Theodore, was propelled into office in 1901 after President William McKinley was assassinated. The White House they moved into was shabby, and from almost any point of view seemed an unsuitable presidential residence. Politicians, the press and major architects urged Teddy Roosevelt to build something more imposing and comfortable in its place. He refused, but agreed to a renovation and expansion. Edith oversaw the project, and Roosevelt lived and worked for more than a year amid construction hell.
By the time the workmen moved out, Edith had taken charge of the day-to-day running of the executive mansion. For that, she needed a secretary and an office of her own, and Congress agreed to finance both.

Like many another woman of the day, she had little interest in the cause of women’s suffrage. Being a wife and a mother, wasn’t that enough? All the same, Edith was drawn into politics. In her office she held a weekly “parlor cabinet” where the wives of cabinet members could exchange news, gossip and rumors. But mostly they discussed what their husbands were doing and thinking.

When T.R. and Edith left the White House in 1909, the office of the first lady had a staff of four and its permanence seemed assured. Yet it would take another generation and another Roosevelt administration before Edith’s true successor would arrive. Eleanor Roosevelt was Edith’s niece (T.R. and Franklin D. Roosevelt were fifth cousins), and she came to the role with a passion for justice that transcended gender and nationality. Theodore Roosevelt had called the presidency “a bully pulpit.” Eleanor turned the office of first lady into a pulpit all her own.

In the years before F.D.R. was elected president, Eleanor’s energies had been devoted to the public good. She had taught at a progressive school, joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, renounced her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution for its racist attitudes, and established a furniture factory near Hyde Park to provide local jobs.

After her husband became president, Eleanor made no secret of the fact that she had never wanted to be the first lady. Yet despite her protests, she only had to be her natural self to succeed. She held press conferences for female reporters, whom she felt (rightly) did not receive their due respect. These gatherings were limited mainly to topics women were interested in, but she was not shy about expressing political views in her syndicated newspaper column, “My Day.”

Traveling extensively to promote Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, Eleanor became “my ears and legs,” as the wheelchair-bound president put it. In turn, she persuaded him to put a woman, Frances Perkins, in the cabinet for the first time.

The very model of a modern woman in action, Eleanor preferred airplanes to trains. The fact that the first lady was willing to risk flying probably encouraged other women, and more than a few men, to do the same. Still, all this busyness provoked a certain amount of mockery and contempt. During the 1940 presidential election, Republicans distributed buttons that read, “We don’t want Eleanor either.”

In the end, though, she triumphed over her small-minded critics. According to a recent Harris poll, Eleanor Roosevelt is considered the greatest first lady ever. Jacqueline Kennedy ranks second, but it’s a distant second.

The true inheritor of the office of the first lady wasn’t Jackie, but the outspoken Betty Ford, who modernized it with her frankness — something the presidency sorely needed in the wake of Watergate.

Like Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford had a pronounced desire not to be the first lady. Her interests were cultural and, like Eleanor, she had joined the N.A.A.C.P. A professional dancer trained by Martha Graham, Betty had been briefly married and speedily divorced. Pretty and leggy, she had paid for her dancing lessons by working as a fashion model.

Her marriage to Gerald Ford ended her career, gave her four children and provided her with a husband who was almost never at home. She turned to alcohol, and its old companion depression came along, too. Betty brought enough baggage to the White House to fill a very large truck. Yet, she told friends that as she listened to her husband take the oath of office, “I felt like I was taking the oath too.”

The nation soon found that an ostensibly Republican presidency had another side to it. The office of the first lady by now had a staff of more than 20 and was presided over by someone who publicly applauded the Roe v. Wade abortion decision and deplored the Vietnam War. Betty was a proponent of therapy, having turned to it when depressed. She also supported gay rights and did not see anything wrong with couples cohabiting rather than getting married. But she stirred controversy by lobbying for the Equal Rights Amendment. Her favorite historical figure was Susan B. Anthony.

In September of 1974, Betty was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy two days later. At the time, a third of those afflicted died from the disease. Betty spoke out about her ordeal and treatment. The unmentionable had suddenly become the discussable. The number of women requesting breast cancer screening rose by 400 per cent.

After the Fords left Washington and moved to Palm Springs, Calif., she created the Betty Ford Center, in Rancho Mirage, to help people who, like her, struggled against alcohol and drug abuse. A Good Housekeeping poll rated her most admired woman in America. And Congress awarded her its highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

In the “two for one” presidency of Bill Clinton, the legacy of Edith Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford was advanced by Hillary Clinton, who openly involved herself in the making of government policy. Instead of whispering in the president’s ear, she testified before Congressional committees. But when she stood by her man after his infidelities were revealed to the world, there were bumper stickers that read, “World’s Most Powerful Doormat.” They seem remote now.

In 2005 the National First Ladies’ Library opened in Canton, Ohio, and this month the United States Mint will begin producing commemorative one-dollar coins that celebrate every president — and, beginning in 2008, every first lady. They are dedicated not to the first ladies as such but to “the first spouse.” That seems to leave room for a female president.

It might also leave room for something else. Millions of Democrats seem to be yearning for Bill Clinton to return to the White House. Hillary for president and Bill for first spouse?

Where are the Betty Fords and Eleanor Roosevelts of today? When did so many women become baby making and breast feeding machines, satisfied with their place, put there by men, and eager to convince other women to join them as second class citizens? What happened to the courage exhibited by leading women, even if they were spouses and their voices were heard solely because of their husbands positions in society? Yes, there are many more women in executive positions in large corporations, in professional fields of medicine and law, even in academia and politics. But do any of these fine women speak out to ensure that every woman has access to every form of reproductive health – contraceptives, morning after pills, and abortion. This is the most despicable message of the religious right and the faith-based initiatives of this administration. No, abstinence is not the answer to every issue from HIV/AIDS to STDs to unwanted pregnancies to teenage pregnancies. To think that our current first lady claim that invading Afghanistan would help the Afghani women against the mistreatment of women by the Taliban and yet refuse to step up and stop the mistreatment of American women and girls by her own husband’s policies is disgraceful. I was a 60s generation feminist, I suppose, and I must admit that I did not see this assault on women’s reproductive rights creeping its way into all aspects of our society, as it has. This is far more insidious than I thought. I was shocked to learn that a woman’s insurance may not pay for contraceptives but will pay for Viagra. And Medicaid as well? How did this happen? Were we sleeping at the wheel while the religious right and white male Christians took over the reins? Do you women realize that five white Catholic males made the recent abortion decision? For God’s sakes, women of the world, think of your daughters – all daughters around the world. We have to put a stop to this “Talibanization” of America. I would vote for Hillary if she came out loud and clear that she supports what I am saying here and she feels the way I do. What good would it be if a female president has any qualms about the separation of church and state when it comes to the health of women?

As first spouse, Bill Clinton would have a long way to go in his second White House role to match Betty Ford, who you rightly say “modernized it with her frankness.” After eight years of tight-smiling Bushes, the sheer humanity Mrs. Ford brought with her would be more than welcome. She not only made people feel that she felt their pain but shared her own with them, as I was priviliged to witness://ajliebling.blogspot.com/search?q=betty+ford

It is disheartening to see that Jackie Kennedy ranks as second-most admired FL, even if she is a “distant” second to Eleanor Roosevelt. Will someone please tell me what, aside from being younger and more attractive than Mamie Eisenhower, and becoming an object of sympathy when her husband got shot, she ever did? For that matter, did her husband accomplish anything that makes a large chunk of the populace regard him as a “great” president, or God help us a “martyr” (for what?) other than getting shot? I mean, I’m sorry he was shot, but get real. She couldn’t shine Betty Ford’s or Hillary Clinton’s shoes, much less Eleanor Roosevelt’s.

I must speak up for Jacqueline Kennedy. She was the “Princess Diana” of her day…bringing an air of fun and elegance and sophistication to the White House…breathing new life into those dusty halls. For one brief shining moment there indeed was a Camelot…untarnished by what future historians would unveil. And I will always be grateful to her for helping to preserve Grand Central Station in NYC from the philistines.

In answer to #3: John Kennedy founded the Peace Corps, which is reason enough to say he was great in my book! And Jacqueline was a journalist and fluent in French. But agree she largely ranks highly because of her beauty and style.

It’s a difficult role, being first spouse. I applaud the women who’ve done it.

To answer ACW, let me just say this. We were proud to be Americans with Jack and Jackie in the White House. Proud because they spoke well, dressed well, charmed the world, and represented the grace and dignity that we Americans wish all people could display. Just to prove this is not a partisan thing, Ronald and Nancy Reagan did the same thing for us. When they traveled or when foreigners came here, the Kennedys and the Reagans represented Americans well. Compare that with … well, you know who – an embarrassing couple (no, foursome, including their twin girls).

If you don’t like that Jackie Kennedy is voted as the second-most admired first lady, then use your vote for another woman, but please don’t criticize Jackie! In her 3 years as a FL, Jackie brought a new standard of class to the White House not only in her mannerisms, but by improving the actual building through restoration and using historic pieces. She got Congress to pass a bill making White House items/furnishes a part of the Smithsonian so presidents could not take them home. She fundraised and made the project her own. Her ability to make people comfortable helped smooth diplomatic visits. It may not be as impressive as other first ladies, but it was successful. Who knows what else she would have accomplished with more time.

This survey is looking for the most admired first lady—the public looks to her as an icon, not just for fashion, but of strength. This woman survived a great deal in the public eye, and I think others identified with her. Jackie fans don’t feel sorry for her, but admire her personally for the amount of class she brought to the position.

As I recently read (and relived) a book about Jacqueline and those dreaded four days in November, the “cold cave” Garrison Keillor once described, I recall that she used every ounce her signature poise and grace to hold together a country vitualy torn to shreds. As a young parent who witnessed her husband’s gruesome muder — an experiencd which itself could have led to insanity — she gathered every ounce of her famous dignity and shared it with all of us. I was a grade schooleer at the time, but I will never forget the steely grit with which she handled one of the worst times in the 20th century. She managed to create a funeral — please remeember in a manner of days — that will live in the memories of baby boomers until they reach their own graves. Like Jacqueline, the funeral represented everything that was right with this country: quiet dignity, pagentry without pomp, elegance and comfort. For that alone, I will mark her very high on the list of influental first ladies. She carried the entire nation on her slim shoulders for four days, and I believe she receives a lifetime of credit for showing us all how to grieve.

In this interesting article there are two unfortunate word usages. The first is “wheelchairbound” to describe President Roosevelt. If he were alive today, he would most likely prefer “wheelchair using (or user)” as a descriptor. This is what most people who use wheelchairs today do prefer.

The second is less problematic, and yet, I think could also be bettered. It is “afflicted” to describe Mrs. Ford’s encounter with breast cancer. Many women I know “have” cancer, are “going through cancer” “live with” cancer. “Afflicted” implies helplessness, the other uages indicate possibility.
These are perhaps small things to mention, but such unfortunate uses of words does affect many people-and can detract from otherwise quite interesting material.

In the 1960’s, I travelled the world as the photographer for the Peace Corps. Virtually everywhere we want, the people shouted their praise and love for America, JFK, and “Jackie”. For some reason, let’s call it grace–people responded to the positive aspects of America and its values.

Jackie and JFK represented the face of those values. Rightly or wrongly, it was a pleasure and a priviledge to be American then.

I cannot see that happening today.

We have squandered the moral high ground, and no one seems to know how to fix it, short of impeaching the present administration, for which no one seems to have the courage.

In response to Peggy, if not particularly relevant: I hope that the movement to empower groups of people through language does not grow so forceful that writers cannot exercise their senses of connotation. The reason that it is relevant that FDR described Eleanor as his “eyes and legs” is because he could not use those legs himself; to emphasize that he did “use” a wheelchair may miss the point.

In support of, and to complement #11, we need both substance (as in brains) and style back in the White House. The Clintons may not epitomize the latter, but they sure have plenty of substance to offer.

In response to the #1 post who asked where are the Betty Fords and Eleanor Roosevelts of today? They are more visible now than then. And fortunately the majority of them are not decrying women as baby making breast feeding machines instead they are making a difference in many areas of society in courageous ways. To compare the Taliban treatment of women to treatment of women here in America minimizes the pain, suffering and death (including stoning) forced on women in many parts of Afghanistan.

Since when did the religious right and white male Christians take over the reins? Jesus’ legacy wasn’t political or based on gender. If anything Jesus was a left of center and attended to the poor, the ill and outcast, the politically incorrect, the women who had no rights, and the oppressed.

Hillary Clinton is the first female Presidential candidate with a chance to be President and unfortunately some women are often the first ones to throw Talibanian stones.

No need to be concerned about Bill Clinton as the “First Spouse.” It won’t happen. The Democratic Party has quite a record of nominating candidates for President who are even less electable than those nominated by the Republicans.

If the Democrats are so un-pragmatic as to nominate either Hillary or Barak, they will effectively hand the election to the Republicans on a silver platter once again just as they did in nominating the un-electable John Kerry in 2004.

Fred Thompson is the Republicans’ secret weapon. If they nominate him, the Democrats’ only chance is to nominate someone who looks as presidential and sounds as presidential as Fred. His combination of gravitas, charisma, maturity, and voter recognition may even be beatable, but not by the likes of Hillary or Barak or any of the current fleet of also-rans.

To answer #15’s Post. It seems as if Al Gore is correct in waiting in the wings to toss his hat in the ring or perhaps be drafted as the Democratic nominee. He won once and would be elected by a landslide this time. Barring third party interruptions o0f course.

John Kennedy was a great president in part because he said no to racism and inspired us to care more for our fellows in a way that no other president ever had. This was still a segregated country in the early 60’s. It still shocks me. Under JFK the excecutive branch (and the Justice Department) no longer turned a blind eye to what was going on in this country regarding indignity to Black Americans and other minorities. And all Americans are better for that today. JFK championed justice the way no other president did.

I was young, but when JFK spoke, he inspired people in the way that President Reagan did as well.

I cannot let comment 15 pass without response. I don’t worry about but welcom the possibility of
Bil Clintom as first spouse and hope that if this comes about he willbe as productive in formulating policy for the new president as she was for him in his term. While the health legislation she proposed and supervised the drafting for failed ,mostly for political reasons,it contained elements we see today in proposals for health care reform,a remarkable achievment for a First Lady,attesting to the substanceshe brought to the White House just as Mrs.Roosevelt did.
Robert Kaplan

I enjoyed reading a review of the accomplishments of former first ladies. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a woman or women alive today who embodied the character and principles of Eleanor, Jackie,and Betty. What I have read about Eleanor Roosevelt and her passion for justice has been thought provoking and inspirational. I need to remember how I felt when I first learned about her forthright and very frank…and caring…character: strengthened and devoted to truth. Jackie was my ideal from the time I was six years old because she was the premier example of good manners, good character and values learned from history. She was an icon of inner and outer beauty. Thank God for Betty and what she did to promote truth and effective treatment for drug and alchol abuse. Where are these types of women today? This is a country that needs good women in the forefront as models of critical thinking and strength of character. I think Hillary is very bright and truly has made some great contributions to the community, but she comes across as harsh and not as values and principles centered as the aforementioned women.

i, too, long for the brilliance, the ability to create a diplomacy of civility (not childosh name calling) and the willingness to WORK as many hours a day as it took. that was clinton. if it takes a vote for hillary to even get him close to the white house, count me in.

I do appreciate Geoffrey Perret’s wonderful article about our great
First Ladies. I must comment on the term “wheelchair bound” to describe FDR. This is a very outdated term to describe someone who uses a wheelchair to circumnavigate. He was not tied to his wheelchair, he used it for transportation! The proper way to talk about htis is to say just that, he “used a wheelchair”. The editors of the NY Times should never let this term or others like it (confined to a wheelchair) be seen in print.

I agree with what you say about the different strengths of the three outstanding first ladies I would emphasize especially the good works associated with each of them after leaving the White House,Eleanor in Human Rights at the UN,Bertty in the field of Health, and Jackie in Culture and the Arts.

I must.however take issue with your statement that HILLARY is less driven than the others by values and principles. I can just point to her years as Chairperson of the Children’s Defense Fund,a majoe agency promoting the well being of children and defending theie righta,whose Executive Director is Marion Wright Edelman,a leader in the field. During the presidency she extended this interest worldwide with frequent trips to developing countries where starving children with little health care were the rule in a poverty stricken world.And of course we have her successful career as a Senator in which she has demonstratrd other strngths.

To say that she is too harsh may or may not be true but it should be of little consequence in assessing a candidate’s qualification,in the same category ss how they look,and sound,values promoted by the media.